Open Access and Research Visibility: The Prospects and Challenges of an Open Access Policy in Uganda

Abstract:  Open Access (OA) has transformed the global landscape of scholarly communication, providing a means to overcome barriers to knowledge dissemination and fostering equity in research access. Rooted in the principles of shared knowledge and community enrichment, OA has the potential to bridge significant disparities between the Global North and South, particularly in addressing the critical needs of developing nations like Uganda. This chapter examines Uganda’s OA landscape, analyzing its progress, benefits, challenges, and prospects for policy development. OA is premised on the notion that knowledge is a public good and must be freely accessible to maximize its societal impact. This approach is critical in low-resource settings where economic constraints and infrastructural challenges often limit access to scholarly materials. In Uganda, these barriers have restricted researchers, educators, and students from participating fully in global knowledge production and dissemination. However, the adoption of OA models, including institutional repositories and OA journals, has shown promise in addressing these issues. For example, Makerere University Library’s institutional repository has played a pivotal role in increasing the visibility of local research outputs. Despite these advances, the growth of OA in Uganda remains hindered by systemic challenges. The chapter identifies key obstacles, such as limited awareness of OA benefits, infrastructural inadequacies, and the absence of national policies mandating OA publishing. Additionally, restrictive copyright frameworks and reliance on traditional publishing models continue to limit the accessibility and impact of Ugandan research. Moreover, the slow adoption of institutional repositories across academic institutions points to a need for more robust advocacy and capacity-building initiatives. The benefits of OA adoption are well-documented. Studies cited in this chapter highlight that OA articles receive significantly higher visibility, citation rates, and interdisciplinary engagement than their subscription-based counterparts. Moreover, OA accelerates the application of research findings to societal challenges, such as disease outbreaks, by providing immediate and unrestricted access to essential information. In Uganda, the integration of OA into national policies could mitigate the high costs of journal subscriptions, alleviate budgetary constraints on libraries, and support the dissemination of research that addresses local development issues. To fully leverage the potential of OA, Uganda must adopt a comprehensive and inclusive policy framework. This chapter underscores the importance of aligning OA strategies with national development goals, particularly those related to education, innovation, and information access. Recommendations include revising copyright laws to facilitate OA practices, incentivizing the use of institutional repositories, and fostering collaborations among academic institutions, government agencies, and international organizations. Furthermore, the establishment of peer-reviewed journals focusing on local content would ensure that Ugandan research contributes to both national and global knowledge economies.